ISLAMABAD – The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will convene in Peshawar today to finalize the announcement for the Ramazan moon sighting. This critical meeting is set to be chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, the chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Chairman Azad’s decision will determine the start date of the holy month of Ramadan in Pakistan. The final declaration on whether the new moon was sighted during Tuesday’s twilight or not may come from him today. This makes his stance crucial for adherents of Islamic law who follow the sightings of the new moon to begin each lunar month.
Meeting attendees are expected to include representatives from various zonal committees across the country, including those in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Quetta. These regional bodies were notified by the Ministry of Religious Affairs about their participation in today’s meeting.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has provided predictions that support a sighting of the Ramazan 1447 AH moon on the evening of February 18th, marking the official start of the holy month. According to PMD’s Climate Data Processing Centre, there is strong likelihood for visibility during the twilight hours.
Suparco, Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, has also weighed in with its scientific prediction. Based on its calculations, the new moon was born at 5:01 PM PKT on February 17th, and it will be visible to the naked eye by February 18th, indicating that Ramazan would begin the next day.
The visibility conditions are particularly advantageous in coastal areas, which could potentially see a gap of about half an hour between sunset and moonset, thereby enhancing overall visibility.
Thus, as Pakistan prepares for its religious observance, both meteorological data and expert committees are converging to determine the commencement date. The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee’s decision will likely set in motion Ramazan’s official celebration, impacting thousands of devotees across the nation.
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicts that the moon will be sighted on Tuesday evening, February 18th, which aligns with predictions from Suparco. This forecast suggests that Pakistan might begin observing the holy month of Ramazan on Wednesday, February 19th, 2026.
While regional committees convene in Peshawar today to finalize these details, coastal regions await clear skies and favorable conditions for viewing the event. The central committee’s decision will mark a significant turning point in the nation’s religious calendar.